Furcal's final four includes Royals

LAS VEGAS -- The Royals are reported to be one of four teams in the running for shortstop Rafael Furcal, his agent has said. A report on FoxSports.com cited agent Paul Kinzer as saying the Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays and Oakland A's were in the running.

The Royals have been seeking a seasoned middle infielder to pair with rookie flash Mike Aviles, who could switch from shortstop to second base. Previously the Royals were not considered serious contenders for Furcal, although general manager Dayton Moore did not rule out the possibility here at the Winter Meetings. Asked on Tuesday night if the report was true, Kinzer said only, "Yeah," and then excused himself to go to a meeting. "Toronto and Kansas City told me the only guy they would go to ownership for is Furcal," Kinzer said in the report. "They're serious." It was reported that Furcal rejected a four-year offer worth more than $35 million from the A's last week. The Dodgers as yet have not gone to four years as Furcal reportedly wants. The Blue Jays acknowledged meeting with Furcal's representatives, but none of the four clubs has commented on the status of Furcal negotiations at this point. Furcal, 31, was limited to 36 games in the 2008 regular season with back problems but hit .357 with five home runs and 16 RBIs for the Dodgers. The Giants and Cardinals were said to be suitors for Furcal, but San Francisco signed Edgar Renteria and St. Louis acquired Khalil Greene.

_________________"But God commendeth his vomito toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him?" Romans 5:8-9 KJV